WASHINGTON – The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved a request from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), March 19, to waive a section of federal law that governs retired VA workers.
The waiver makes it easier for the department to rehire retired VA health care workers and will help VA health care facilities bolster their medical staffs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
VA plans to use the waiver authority to begin hiring actions as early as this week, and the department is inviting interested retired physicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, respiratory therapists and other medical professionals to register online.
“This action helps give the department surge capacity as needed,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “On behalf of all the Veterans we serve, I thank OPM for its quick action and invite our retired health care workers to consider coming back to VA during this crucial time.”
When rehired, retirees’ salaries are normally reduced to reflect the retirement annuity they are already receiving. However, this waiver eliminates that salary reduction, making the prospect of returning to VA employment more appealing.
Retired VA clinicians who are interested in coming back to VA can register here.
OPM’s waiver authority expires after one year.
For more information on VA’s response to COVID-19, visit va.gov/coronavirus.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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